Exhibit 99.1
                                 Notice to Directors and Executive Officers

                                                               July 6, 2005

            Important Notice to Directors and Executive Officers
            Regarding the Immediate Prohibition of Your Ability
To Purchase or Sell Ashland Inc. Securities Under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002


Dear Director or Executive Officer of Ashland Inc.:

                  As you may be aware,  as of June 30,  2005,  Ashland Inc.
("Ashland")  completed the transfer of its 38-percent  interest in Marathon
Ashland  Petroleum  LLC ("MAP") and two other  businesses  to Marathon  Oil
Corporation   ("Marathon")   through  a  series  of  steps   involving  the
reorganization of Ashland.

                  To facilitate  the  completion of the transfer of Ashland
Inc.'s  interest in MAP and the other  businesses to Marathon,  there was a
previously announced blackout period - that was expected to last not longer
than two  business  days or in any  event  not  beyond  the week  after the
closing of the transaction with Marathon - during which  participants  have
been unable to make  investment  exchanges into or out of the Ashland Stock
Fund in the Ashland Inc. Employee Savings Plan (the "Savings Plan"). During
that period, participants have also not been able to make any exchanges out
of the new  Marathon  Stock Fund that was  created as of the closing of the
transaction with Marathon. That initial blackout period will extend through
July 6.

                    Ashland is currently in discussions with the Securities
and Exchange  Commission  ("SEC") regarding the appropriate  application of
certain  Federal  securities laws to the Savings Plan following the closing
of the transaction with Marathon.  Until the matter has been clarified, and
in order to ensure compliance with applicable securities laws, the blackout
period  described  above will be  extended.  During the  extended  blackout
period,  participants will be unable to make investment exchanges or direct
new  investments  into the Ashland Stock Fund,  which invests  primarily in
Ashland  common  stock.   Participants  will,  however,  be  able  to  make
investment  exchanges  out of the Ashland  Stock Fund  during the  extended
blackout period.

                  THE  EXTENDED  BLACKOUT  PERIOD FOR THE SAVINGS PLAN WILL
BEGIN JULY 7, 2005, AND IS EXPECTED TO END DURING THE WEEK THAT STARTS JULY
10, 2005.  During the week that starts July 10,  participants can determine
whether the extended blackout period has ended by accessing  Fidelity's web
site (www.401k.com; log in and choose "NetBenefits") or contacting Fidelity
on the automated telephone response system (1-800-827-4526).

                  You may contact Ron  Griffith,  c/o  Ashland  Inc.,  3499
Blazer    Parkway,    Lexington,    KY   40509   (Tel:    (859)   357-7314;
rrgriffith@ashland.com)  if you  have  any  questions  about  the  extended
blackout period.

                  We  wish to  remind  you  that,  generally,  pursuant  to
Section  306(a) of the  Sarbanes-Oxley  Act of 2002,  during  the  extended
blackout  period,  it is  unlawful  for you,  directly  or  indirectly,  to
purchase,  sell or  otherwise  acquire  or  transfer  any shares of Ashland
common  stock  or  other  equity  securities  of  Ashland   (including  any
derivative   securities)  if  you  acquire  or  previously   acquired  such
securities in  connection  with your service or employment as a director or
executive officer.

                              Sincerely yours,



                              /s/ Susan Esler
                              -------------------------------------
                              Susan Esler
                              Vice President, Human Resources